iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- The State Department issued a statement on Thursday in response to the law to be signed by President Putin to ban Americans from adopting Russian children.

State Department Spokesperson Patrick Ventrell said, "We have repeatedly made clear, both in private and in public, our deep concerns about the bill passed by the Russian parliament, that if signed by President Putin, would halt intra-country adoptions between the United States and Russia.”

Ventrell added, “The welfare of children is simply too important to tie to the political aspects of our relationship.”

The State Department reports more than 60,000 Russian children have been adopted by Americans since 1992.